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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Read for work. I think I’m obsessed? It took a while for me to get into this book, mostly due to the frustrating natures of the twin sibling leads: Rose is growing up too fast and appears deliberately cruel, and Arthur is often prone to whining and had bouts of jealousy. Yet, as the novel progresses (and at what a page-turning pace) they grow and their relationship heals. The novel sets up fantastically for the sequel(s). There is a moment late in the novel about “the best game ever” which was surprisingly touching as an adult reader. I love this!
I really enjoyed this book, a lot more than I anticipated too. I saw everyone on my social media was getting it for a book club and it was only when I finished my previous book I thought “I’ve got 3 days...I can do this” and so I did.
The storyline of the text was lovely and imaginative, it reminded me of Peter Pan and Narnia combined. I love the contrast between the two main characters, one so caught up in their childhood and the other racing to grow up. I liked the element of magic in the book and what made it a nice read for myself was that, pretty much everyone can relate to it in some way or another. I never had a made up world personally but I played so many games using my imagination and this book made me feel incredibly nostalgic about those times.
Excited to read the sequel!!
The storyline of the text was lovely and imaginative, it reminded me of Peter Pan and Narnia combined. I love the contrast between the two main characters, one so caught up in their childhood and the other racing to grow up. I liked the element of magic in the book and what made it a nice read for myself was that, pretty much everyone can relate to it in some way or another. I never had a made up world personally but I played so many games using my imagination and this book made me feel incredibly nostalgic about those times.
Excited to read the sequel!!
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a great middle grade fantasy. It deals with themes of siblings growing up and growing apart. It also presents a unique way of looking at fear and anxiety, as the twins create a world containing all their individual likes and dislikes. Rose and Arthur have to work together to overcome their fears and save the day. It's also pretty funny!
A Peter Pan style adventure that celebrates the power of imagination. Descriptive and fast-paced, this read is fun with a bit of danger. Small nods to the Wizard of Oz, Narnia, and other childhood favorites are present in the plot, making it a fun read for adults as well as the intended middle grade audience.
Be prepared to be swept away into a different reality, with our plucky little duo Arthur and Rose. The land of roar was just a game, a figment of a child’s imagination. It was a fun world the twins used to play, as a make believe land where unicorns and dragons exist as well as nightmares you wouldn’t want to pass on a dark night… but it can’t be real, can it?
The dynamic between the twins was an interesting one. I loved how real it was and how much I felt for Arthur. They had been so close but growing up can form a wedge between siblings especially of opposite genders. Arthur is all play, telescopes over mobile phones and Rose is growing up fast. She wants to be with her friends, is surgically attached to her mobile and there suddenly doesn’t seem to be a place for Arthur anymore.
But when their grandad goes missing (suspected disappearance under bed) they are thrown together into a world they couldn’t have believed possible.
It was a good story and plot with Narnia vibes. As I’m not the usual demographic for this as it is a book aimed for younguns and middle grade, I perhaps didn’t enjoy as much as the intended audience. The audiobook was well narrated but I did find it easy to slip in and out of.
It was heartwarming and seeing the twins join together was lovely. A book many aged 8-12 will love!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
The dynamic between the twins was an interesting one. I loved how real it was and how much I felt for Arthur. They had been so close but growing up can form a wedge between siblings especially of opposite genders. Arthur is all play, telescopes over mobile phones and Rose is growing up fast. She wants to be with her friends, is surgically attached to her mobile and there suddenly doesn’t seem to be a place for Arthur anymore.
But when their grandad goes missing (suspected disappearance under bed) they are thrown together into a world they couldn’t have believed possible.
It was a good story and plot with Narnia vibes. As I’m not the usual demographic for this as it is a book aimed for younguns and middle grade, I perhaps didn’t enjoy as much as the intended audience. The audiobook was well narrated but I did find it easy to slip in and out of.
It was heartwarming and seeing the twins join together was lovely. A book many aged 8-12 will love!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
A great book with a fab message about the importance of childhood imagination. The insights on family dynamics and the relationship between the twins is really well written. I would love to have a set of the series for my classroom.
Even though i know middle grade is supposed to be childish, this was too childish for my liking. None of the characters were engaging to me
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Loved it. Its quick and easy but it's also full of imagination and believing. It's believing in an imaginary world you and your twin created when you were little and believing you're not too old for it still, but it's also about believing in yourself and overcoming your fears.
The book starts out with a map drawn by tiny hands and presumably crayon (wonderful). Twins, Rose and Arthur are visiting their Grandad and until he gets pulls into fantasy world they created via a folded cot portal in the attic the kids have almost forgotten about their made up world entirely. Into the cot goes Arthur, searching for his Grandad and later comes Rose searching for answers and not quite believing what she sees.
The Land of Roar (as well as the actual place; Roar) is colorful and fun. There are mermaids and merwitches, fuzzies (little mice with wings?), a wizard ninja, unicorns and dragons- I particularly loved one being named Pickles. Honestly it's all just so clever. Even the villain, a scarecrow with wings (a combination of a straw scare crow and an actual crow because those are two things Arthur feared the most when he was younger). But, since the twins have been gone Roar has been changing and the villain has been gaining control that the kids didn't create. Their imaginary world is starting to take on a mind of its own without them there to govern it. After all, Rose and Arthur are the masters of Roar. Together, with old friends and new they race to find their Grandad save him and themselves from this worlds villain.
Okay, but also can we talk about for a minute how the Grandad also has his own imaginary world the the STILL visits and that the portal is in the jam cabinet?! That's so freaking cute. I love the whole damn thing. Also, the drawings throughout the story were fun too and that cover art is😍😍
Why isn't it five stars then? Because I'm picky and I didn't like the use of some pop cultural references in the dialogue. (It's 100% a weird me thing)
Things The Land of Roar reminded me of:
-Gravity Falls (show) ; where twins Dipper and Mabel go to visit their Gruncle Stan and unexplainable fantasy type things happen.
-Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (book); because of the top tier creativity.
The book starts out with a map drawn by tiny hands and presumably crayon (wonderful). Twins, Rose and Arthur are visiting their Grandad and until he gets pulls into fantasy world they created via a folded cot portal in the attic the kids have almost forgotten about their made up world entirely. Into the cot goes Arthur, searching for his Grandad and later comes Rose searching for answers and not quite believing what she sees.
The Land of Roar (as well as the actual place; Roar) is colorful and fun. There are mermaids and merwitches, fuzzies (little mice with wings?), a wizard ninja, unicorns and dragons- I particularly loved one being named Pickles. Honestly it's all just so clever. Even the villain, a scarecrow with wings (a combination of a straw scare crow and an actual crow because those are two things Arthur feared the most when he was younger). But, since the twins have been gone Roar has been changing and the villain has been gaining control that the kids didn't create. Their imaginary world is starting to take on a mind of its own without them there to govern it. After all, Rose and Arthur are the masters of Roar. Together, with old friends and new they race to find their Grandad save him and themselves from this worlds villain.
Okay, but also can we talk about for a minute how the Grandad also has his own imaginary world the the STILL visits and that the portal is in the jam cabinet?! That's so freaking cute. I love the whole damn thing. Also, the drawings throughout the story were fun too and that cover art is😍😍
Why isn't it five stars then? Because I'm picky and I didn't like the use of some pop cultural references in the dialogue. (It's 100% a weird me thing)
Things The Land of Roar reminded me of:
-Gravity Falls (show) ; where twins Dipper and Mabel go to visit their Gruncle Stan and unexplainable fantasy type things happen.
-Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (book); because of the top tier creativity.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes